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March 6, 2023 adminEndometriosis0

Good day bloggers.

The month of March is observed all over the world as an endometriosis awareness month. While reading many recent journals for updates, and guidelines, we were getting updated about numbers, the gravity of endometriosis and the challenges ahead of us.

While being in clinical practice where every patient is unique and the symptoms appear to be as diverse as non-menstrual abdominal or pelvic pain, Infertility, Painful sex, or bowel-related symptoms, Bladder pain along with Lower back pain, Bloating, and consistent fatigue.

Endometriosis may be at the root of all of these symptoms, sometime in silent form or may be intense in the future and as the disease may present in different ways in different individuals. Unbearable pain is a constant complaint in the above cases.

Very difficult to diagnose based on a few scans and tests along with silence to bear with situations makes it hard for all. We are here to put the concerns of endometriosis beyond assumptions.

Let us find out more about endometriosis.

 

What is endometriosis?

ENDOMETRIOSIS is a condition where endometrial tissues and adhesions are found outside of the uterus and these cells respond to hormonal changes as if, they are within a uterus. such cells may be found in the bladder, pelvic region and bowel and other organs too. Such lesions of endometriosis get attached to other organs too. Such conditions then can cause intense pain as well as inflammation.

Endometriosis is not a period disease.

Unlike during regular periods, the pain of endometriosis isn’t caused by contractions of the uterus, but instead, comes from uterus tissue growing elsewhere in the pelvic cavity. This inflammation often results in a lot of pain.  The intense pain from endometriosis can occur regularly, even in the absence of a menstrual cycle. Menstrual pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain killers whereas endometriosis pain is severe and may not be managed with over-the-counter painkillers alone. Period pain is labelled as dysmenorrhea and goes away after the periods.

It is a spectrum disease with a variety of subtypes and symptoms like pain, inflammation, infertility, development of endometriomas (“chocolate cysts”), fibrosis, formation of adhesions (fibrous bands of dense tissue), Gastrointestinal and other organ dysfunction, and much more, are common with endometriosis.

Detection of endometriosis takes time:

The real reason behind this lengthy detection is symptoms which are many and every patient may have different complaints. The silence kept over the symptoms often causes a delay in seeing an expert. To understand endometriosis, let us know about symptoms which cannot be ignored and can help to seek the help of an expert.

Symptoms often reported but not limited to are,

Pelvic Pain in the abdomen, Painful intercourse and sexual activity, Leg pain, lower back pain etc. Most of the time, symptoms appear to be on the surface and are mild. As time passes, lesions go deeper and chronic symptoms become noticeable. Does it mean, every symptom is of endometriosis? No. Rather, put it like this. We need to know, what is normal and what not so normal or causing concern is. Watch out for the symptom intensity, duration, frequency, medication response, and symptoms’ reoccurrence. Make a note of it and keep it handy as it can form the basis of the right history taking.

 

So, when should you go to the doctor?

If the pain is severe and comes days before the period and persists after the period, then it could be endometriosis. See a gynaecologist and get tested. Another indication is if the pain doesn’t go away after taking painkillers or other analgesic pills, or over the period, intensity, duration & episodes increase with time.

 

Endometriosis is certainly not in your head, and we hear your silence.

Let’s understand that pain has intensity and every individual has a different tolerance capacity. That is why we at Pearl Women’s hospital understand your pain and developed a protocol to address your concerns. We understand pain as an obstacle that affects your daily routine and needs prompt treatment.

Endometriosis slowly and steadily takes over the body, intensity increases over time. You may be scaling new highs on the personal as well as professional front while being with endometriosis. Gold standard Laparoscopic examination may confirm the diagnosis and we understand, not all illnesses are visible and still be powerful to affect lives.

Let the silence be deleted and let’s practically know more about endometriosis.

 

Endometriosis is rare, what is your take?

Endometriosis is not rare as there is 10% of women suffer from it, which means 1 out of 10 women suffer from it.

Endometriosis is now a commonly diagnosed condition in gynaecology and you are not alone. The cases like PCOS and uterine fibroids are widely seen and spoken about but with endometriosis, the case is different. As there is no defined biomarker or blood test which can reveal endometriosis, its severity and progression. It simply does not mean, there is no progress in understanding disease in depth. There are multidisciplinary approaches to reducing effective symptoms.

 

After detection and with a surgical approach, can endometriosis be cured?

Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis, there are treatments available to reduce the symptoms and their intensity. The key whole surgery is still major surgery. There are multiple options available to control symptoms like medications, IUDs, surgeries, Pelvic floor physiotherapy, Prescription pain killers, supplements etc.

Your treatment plan will be tailor-made as per your conditions and may not be identical to others,

Be gentle to yourself. It ok, if you are not performing at your best sometimes.

 

Let’s understand some facts in a nutshell

As of now, Endometriosis has no cure but effective treatments are available which offer relief.

Endometriosis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease.

Treatment for endometriosis is not the same or one size fits all approach.

Pregnancy is not a cure for endometriosis

Birth control can offer temporary relief.

The right diagnosis at right time is the key which helps in the faster and more effective treatment

The silence over endometriosis is a matter of concern

A lot needs to be done and the least we can do is, seek the guidance of the right doctor.


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September 29, 2022 adminEndometriosis

The issue with Endometriosis isn’t just the pain and disruption of lifestyle, but the fact that diagnosis may take anything upto 7 years, with a surgical procedure being  required for a definitive diagnosis.  The gold standard confirmatory  test for endometriosis is Laparoscopy. The condition, as such, is not curable but specially trained experts like Dr Chaitanya Ganapule offer state-of-the-art treatment options including 3 D Laparoscopic surgery at Pearl Women’s Hospital, Pune.

 

10 % of menstruating women suffer silently due to endometriosis. During the normal menstruation process, the cells of the uterus lining called endometrium build up & if there is no pregnancy, the cells shade up causing menstrual flow. Women with Endometriosis, too, develop such cells, which not only look, and act like endometrium outside the uterus but also in the other reproductive tissues. Such cells respond to the hormonal changes, so there is build-up & shedding of cells, causing small bleeding in the pelvis. This causes inflammation and scarring of endometrium tissues. The result is painful, heavy, long periods, and cramps.

The exact reason for this pain may be due to chemicals released during the process, hormonal changes etc.

Suffering in silence not only delays the diagnosis but complicates the treatment further. Medical management may have to be replaced by high end surgical treatment.

 

So, when you feel, or realize that your menses or periods are far more painful and heavy compared to your friends and cousins, do visit a specialist who has extensive & practical knowledge of female reproductive issues & is capable of fixing the issue well in time.

 

Dr Chaitanya Ganapule MD has taken training from a specialized Endometriosis surgery institute in France for surgical management of Endometriosis using 3 D Laparoscopy systems.

 

When you go to seek answers from the specialist It is important to jot down the questions, you need to seek answers for:

 

What causes the pain in the abdomen in Endometriosis?

Why it is so intense & not seem to be routine periods pain?

What are the treatment options available for the pain and for the disease itself?

Will it relieve the symptoms or condition itself?

What are the side effects of treatments?

What, if my symptoms don’t go away?

What lifestyle changes, do I have to make?

What will happen, if I don’t go ahead with treatment?

Will my fertility be affected? If yes, then what are the options?

Will my previous surgery is causing this pain?

Do I need to have multiple surgeries or chances of relapse of surgery?

 

Your doctor too will have a few queries, so make note of it.

 

  1. What are the symptoms & how often do they appear?
  2. When do they get worse or better?
  3. Do any close relatives have such problems,
  4. History of  Endometriosis in the family?
  5. What are the medicines you take currently?

 

Always keep a track of your symptoms.

Like Painful periods, Severe Cramps, Pain during sex & urination, Heavy bleeding, Nausea & vomiting during a period, headaches, constipation, Trouble getting pregnant, sleep patterns etc.

 

What is the importance of maintaining these symptoms?

You will never miss out on any symptom (relevant or irrelevant)

You will rightly inform the intensity with which it happens.

You will not downplay any symptoms that hurt you so much.

 

Diagnostic delay of 3 to 12 yrs in endometriosis,

  1. Primarily a patient’s delay in reluctance in seeking the medical help
  2. Preparedness of GPs to interpret the symptoms
  3. Expert’s dilemma for differential diagnosis.
  4. Diagnostic laparoscopic surgery for confirmation

 

Informed diagnosis has many challenges.

  1. Whether confirmed or suspected diagnosis of Endometriosis is often the 1sttime patients hear the word endometriosis.
  2. Distress is the 1stresponse along with confusing outdated content available all over.
  3. Wrong or misleading info can delay the proper treatment, and can be very expensive as well as dangerous too.
  4. Frequent visits to the clinic are necessary to access the extent of endometriosis.

 

Where to seek expert help for endometriosis @ PUNE?

 

We @Pearl Women’s Hospital & Yash IVF have excellence in endometriosis treatment and is situated at the central location of Deccan, Pune.

Dr Chaitanya Ganapule is an expert in Laparoscopic surgical removal of such tissues or fibroids or Polyps, is his forte and he is considered one of the top Gynaecologists for this procedure.

A reputed Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic surgeon, Dr Chaitanya Ganapule has been trained at some of the best centres in France and Germany. He has a diploma in Pelvic Endoscopy from Kiel University, Germany, and A Diploma in Gynec Endoscopy from the University of Clermont – Ferrand, France.  He has recently attended & completed the “Indian Workshop of the Franco-European Multidisciplinary Endometriosis Institut in France, in 2022. We are happy to offer our special ’EndometrioCEASE’ solutions to patients who wish to get rid of pain, restrictions and infertility.

IN A NUTSHELL,

  1. There is no cure for endometriosis but specialized treatment can control the manifestations of the ailment.
  2. Symptom management is the key focus.
  3. Hormonal contraceptives, analgesics or pain killers and surgery are the options.
  4. Women with Endometriosis are everywhere in Emergency wards, Primary care, Psychiatric help centres, schools & colleges with various health issues.
  5. Endometriosis develops in stages, involving other organs with severity.
  6. About 50% patients of with endometriosis suffer from fertility issues.
  7. Hormones do not improve fertility, but IVF is often successful.
  8. Warning signs demand PROMPT ATTENTION.
  9. If pelvic pain, and period pain doesn’t stop with painkillers, see the expert on priority.

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